Report: Honda rushes redo of panned new 2012 Civic

Honda is rushing to redo by the end of next year the new-generation 2012 Civic that just rolled out April 20, says a report today by the Associated Press.

According to the AP's Tom Krisher, Honda is telling dealers they'll get revamped Civic by the end of 2012, an update just 18 months into the new model cycle that normally would come in 3 to 5 years.

Krisher says Honda execs confirmed that the early redo , but say they're just trying to stay ahead of the competition. The compact segment got pretty much a complete batch of redesigned models this year. "It's about how do we get two or three laps ahead of the competition," American Honda Executive VP John Mendel told Krisher.

But the new Civic has also been panned by critics. Consumer Reports stripped the new Civic of its "Recommended Buy" status, saying the 2012 was a step backward. It said the 2012 was less agile than the last version and had a lower-quality interior quality. It also said its brakes took too long to stop the car and that the ride was choppy.

American Honda President Tetsuo Iwamura told Krisher today that the Civic is still the leader in compacts, but that Honda will improve the Civic's drivability. Iwamura gave no details of what else Honda will do to the car.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Honda has told dealers the will get restyled front and rear fascias, a more upscale interior and better fuel economy. (We wonder if those mpg's will come in part from a new 6-speed automatic, like most of the competition has now, rather than the 5-speed Honda continued to use in the 2012. )

While the redo is a rush, sticking with the 2012 unchanged would have left Honda with a lukewarm new entry in a segment full of hot new models.

Civic is a signature product for Honda and is its No.2-seller though November at 200,690, between Accord's 217,995 and CR-V's 196,787, reports Autodata.

Among compact segment sales, it is third year-to-date with 10%, behind Toyota Corolla's 10.9% and Chevy Cruze's 10.7%. And the redesigned Hyundai Elantra and Ford Focus are coming up fast in its rear-view mirror at 8.7% and 8.1%. Also, sales of the new VW Jetta are growing fast, and Chrysler Group is about to roll out a new Alfa-Romeo-based Caliber replacement called Dodge Dart.

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About Chris Woodyard

Chris Woodyard is an auto writer for USA TODAY who covers all aspects of motoring. He revels in the exhaust note of a Maserati and the sharp creases of a Cadillac CTS. Chris strives to live a Porsche life on a Scion budget. More about Chris